Dealing with damaged roof tiles, fixing cracks and structural jobs are all difficult tasks to perform on the roof. There are some jobs that do not always need to be done by a qualified roofing professional, however, they do have some risk for both access and safety that you need to be aware of.

Before starting any roof repair work that you need to implement in your home, it is important you fully consider how you can do the job safely. An important question is will you need scaffolding or will a ladder suffice?

Of course, scaffolding will be the pricier option but you can’t put a price on safety. Always make sure that anyone you hire scaffolding you from are professionally qualified, as badly built scaffolding will be much more dangerous than using a ladder!  Accreditation you can look out for includes the Scaffolding Association and Contractors Health & Safety Assessment Scheme (CHAS).

  1. How big is the project?

If you are working on a small project such as minor repairs of the gutter or roof tiles falling towards the edge of a roof will only need one or two people, and will most likely only require a ladder. However, for greater improvements such as putting new tiles on the roof, a larger team will be needed and Health and Safety will usually always advise that if you have more than four people working at height then you would require a risk assessment report, which basically means you have to install scaffolding.

For jobs that require work on the entire roof you will need scaffolding. Scaffolding will give a solid platform on which to work, stand on and means doing the job in a more efficient manner than ascending and descending a ladder every few minutes. For those on the ground, safer – If there is a material risk of falling, then scaffolding erected around the edge of the platform will alleviate this. A parachute can also be installed to allow for safe transportation of materials. If you are not sure what kind of scaffolding that you need for your project, an expert local scaffolder should be able to help you. For Essex Scaffolding, visit a site like https://www.bgscaffolding.co.uk/scaffolding-essex/

  1. How long will it take?

If your project will take longer than one day, then scaffolding is almost always recommended. Not only because it will help make the work more efficient, but also the fact that the elements can take their toll after a certain number of days! Scaffolding is much safer in harsher weather conditions than a ladder.

  1. When do I not need scaffolding?

Changing the odd tile and fixing the guttering is a classic example of a job where you may not potentially need scaffolding. But if there a danger of falling material to the ground below then you may need to opt for scaffolding. Of course, you should always seek advice from a qualified professional. While it is tempting to see if you can do the work yourself and save money by not using scaffolding, your main concern should be about your safety and the safety of others.